Slightly smaller schools budget unveiled

Published: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at 7:40 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at 7:40 p.m.

Superintendent of Schools George Tomyn presented his 2013-14 budget to the School Board on Tuesday, a streamlined plan that is 1.5 percent smaller than last year's budget.

The district's $456.8 million overall 2013-14 budget is $6.9 million less than the one for 2012-13.

The district budgeted $312.6 million for its general revenue fund in 2013-14 — $7 million more than in 2012-13 and $2.5 million more than Tomyn had estimated in May.

However, that extra money may have to be allocated for climbing health-care costs.

"We are in a real uncertain period (in terms of health-care costs) at the moment," School Board Chairman Ron Crawford said, fearing the Affordable Heath Act will push their costs even further in coming years.

Expecting the district would be facing a $29 million shortfall in 2013-14, Tomyn announced in May layoffs of 261 people, including all 160 first-year teachers.

In recent weeks, after learning how many teachers left the district over the summer due to retirement and resignation, 90 of the laid off teachers have since been reinstated to full-time positions.

All but 27 of the laid-off teachers have been contacted about returning. Four teachers let their certifications expire and could not be rehired, 32 declined offers, and six other offers were still pending.

Officials said as of Tuesday afternoon the district was still working on its final staffing, trying to determine how many slots it had for the remaining 27 laid-off teachers.

Tomyn had estimated in May the district would only receive $295 million in general funds — $310 million if mostly state-mandated reserve funds were included.

In other categories, the district budgeted $50.1 million in capital accounts and $89.1 million in other funds, such as debt service, internal service and other funds.

The 2013-14 budget includes a plan to save $7 million by not meeting the letter of the law of the class-size amendment.

Tomyn, who had once promised not to violate the intent of the class-size amendment, decided it was much cheaper to pay fines than to meet core class-size targets: 18 students in K-5; 22 in middle school; and 25 in high school.

The district has recommended a 2013-14 millage rate of 7.339, just under the 2012-13 rate of 7.671. That means in 2013-14, taxpayers will pay $733.90 per $100,000 of taxable property value — $33.20 less than in 2012-13.

On July 30, the board will hold a public hearing to officially set the proposed millage rate, even though districts around the state have limited jurisdiction to change them without a financial penalty from the state.

After the School Board holds two budget workshops, on Aug. 8 and on Aug. 22, the board will vote on the final budget on Sept. 10 at its regularly scheduled board meeting.

Here's how the millage rate breaks down:

The required local effort was set by the state at 5.066 mills for 2013-14, meaning the average property owner will pay $506.60 per every $100,000 in taxable property value.

Also, the 2013-14 funding adjustment millage was set at 0.250 mills, which works out to $25 per $100,000 of property value, up from $3.90 last year.

The state also set the district's discretionary millage at 0.748 mills, which works out to $74.80 per $100,000 of taxable property value, same as 2012-13.

The final component of the overall rate is the local capital improvement millage, which is primarily used to pay off debt. It remained the same at 1.5 mills, or $150 per every $100,000 in taxable property value.

Contact Joe Callahan at 867-4113 or joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeOcalaNews.

<p>Superintendent of Schools George Tomyn presented his 2013-14 budget to the School Board on Tuesday, a streamlined plan that is 1.5 percent smaller than last year's budget.</p><p>The district's $456.8 million overall 2013-14 budget is $6.9 million less than the one for 2012-13.</p><p>The district budgeted $312.6 million for its general revenue fund in 2013-14 — $7 million more than in 2012-13 and $2.5 million more than Tomyn had estimated in May.</p><p>However, that extra money may have to be allocated for climbing health-care costs.</p><p>"We are in a real uncertain period (in terms of health-care costs) at the moment," School Board Chairman Ron Crawford said, fearing the Affordable Heath Act will push their costs even further in coming years.</p><p>Expecting the district would be facing a $29 million shortfall in 2013-14, Tomyn announced in May layoffs of 261 people, including all 160 first-year teachers.</p><p>In recent weeks, after learning how many teachers left the district over the summer due to retirement and resignation, 90 of the laid off teachers have since been reinstated to full-time positions.</p><p>All but 27 of the laid-off teachers have been contacted about returning. Four teachers let their certifications expire and could not be rehired, 32 declined offers, and six other offers were still pending.</p><p>Officials said as of Tuesday afternoon the district was still working on its final staffing, trying to determine how many slots it had for the remaining 27 laid-off teachers.</p><p>Tomyn had estimated in May the district would only receive $295 million in general funds — $310 million if mostly state-mandated reserve funds were included.</p><p>In other categories, the district budgeted $50.1 million in capital accounts and $89.1 million in other funds, such as debt service, internal service and other funds.</p><p>The 2013-14 budget includes a plan to save $7 million by not meeting the letter of the law of the class-size amendment.</p><p>Tomyn, who had once promised not to violate the intent of the class-size amendment, decided it was much cheaper to pay fines than to meet core class-size targets: 18 students in K-5; 22 in middle school; and 25 in high school.</p><p>The district has recommended a 2013-14 millage rate of 7.339, just under the 2012-13 rate of 7.671. That means in 2013-14, taxpayers will pay $733.90 per $100,000 of taxable property value — $33.20 less than in 2012-13.</p><p>On July 30, the board will hold a public hearing to officially set the proposed millage rate, even though districts around the state have limited jurisdiction to change them without a financial penalty from the state.</p><p>After the School Board holds two budget workshops, on Aug. 8 and on Aug. 22, the board will vote on the final budget on Sept. 10 at its regularly scheduled board meeting.</p><p>Here's how the millage rate breaks down:</p><p>The required local effort was set by the state at 5.066 mills for 2013-14, meaning the average property owner will pay $506.60 per every $100,000 in taxable property value.</p><p>Also, the 2013-14 funding adjustment millage was set at 0.250 mills, which works out to $25 per $100,000 of property value, up from $3.90 last year.</p><p>The state also set the district's discretionary millage at 0.748 mills, which works out to $74.80 per $100,000 of taxable property value, same as 2012-13.</p><p>The final component of the overall rate is the local capital improvement millage, which is primarily used to pay off debt. It remained the same at 1.5 mills, or $150 per every $100,000 in taxable property value.</p><p><i>Contact Joe Callahan at 867-4113 or joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeOcalaNews.</i></p>